Michaela Jaé Rodriguez Demands Equal Rights for LGBTQ Community at Variety’s Power of Women Luncheon: ‘Our Lives Are at Stake’
Angelique Jackson When actor and singer Michaela Jaé Rodriguez landed her big break in 2017, starring as Blanca Evangelista in FX’s “Pose,” it was a rare opportunity for a trans performer to take on a leading role and the type of authentic representation the LGBTQ community continues to fight for in mainstream media.
As the show ended its groundbreaking three-season run in 2021, Rodriguez made history as the first transgender performer to win a Golden Globe award and the first to be nominated for an Emmy in a lead category.
And the Variety Power of Women honoree hasn’t stopped smashing glass ceilings since. Previously billed as MJ, the entertainer now goes by her full name, Michaela Jaé.
She currently stars opposite Maya Rudolph in the Apple TV+ comedy “Loot,” plus she’s stepping behind the scenes to produce movies and hard at work on her long-awaited debut album.
